Red Drum, Redfish, Channel Bass

    Red Drum start moving into the Chesapeake Bay around early spring. They are much more active in the warmer water, but have been known to start biting in the lower bay near VA Beach early to mid March. There are often reports of schools of Bull Reds moving in at the CBBT. As the temps go up, they move up the bay and into the rivers and creeks, all the way to Maryland waters. It's not uncommon for them to stick around until mid-October. 

    Early morning, they like to feed in the shallows and grass flats. So tilt up the engine and deploy the trolling motor to reach that skinny water. Typical to the Bass family, they'll chomp a topwater plug with vigor at dawn and dusk. Midday casting around docks, rocks and other structure requires a steady retrieve with 1/4oz jig head and a 3" swim shad. Same goes for your jerk baits and rattle traps. It takes a little practice, but keep casting and you'll get it. 

    When you get down to it, Red Drum are also known as Channel Bass and they love live bait just like their cousins. You can never go wrong with live minnows, or live shrimp, if you can find some. But it always starts with finding them. Once you've done that, you're already ahead of the game. When conditions are right, they will hit almost any kind of topwater plug, jerk bait, soft plastic or stick bait you would throw at a Largemouth. Sign up for more info on fishing for Red Drum. Click here to find the right bait.